<p>I am an avid CC reader and learned quite a bit about admissions, financial aid, housing, etc. for the schools my son applied to. It is now decision time. His top schools were Cal Poly and Cornell and as he got accepted to both, he is on the fence. As a family, we have visited SLO and the campus many times and love it. My son would be happy at Cal Poly. He visited Cornell once during an athletic camp last summer, met with professors and did a short tour of the campus. He loved the professors and came away with a positive feeling. He thought the campus was beautiful, but he wanted to see it with students, so we are probably going out there after spring break. </p>
<p>My question to other food science majors is which school would you choose and why? Both schools have great reputations so we need some advice from prospective and current students.</p>
<p>I chose Cal Poly because of its fantastic reputation in all fields of education such as agriculture, architecture, business, and engineering. I don’t really know how to explain it but once I stepped onto campus, I knew it felt right and I just have to be there. The campus is really clean and the students there are nice and chill. The campus is only 10 minutes away from the beach and have various hiking trails nearby. The weather is absolutely wonderful too, typical SoCal weather.</p>
<p>But yeah, I don’t personally know much about the food science there, but seeing how it’s big on agriculture, I’d think food science is top-notch.</p>
<p>I went to Ithaca College back in the day and have lived here in SLO for 16 years. Obviously the weather between the 2 places couldn’t be more different. But having grown up in Syracuse I was used to “weather”! I absolutely loved going to school in Ithaca. I lived there a couple of years after graduating. I lived on the lake for 3 years and loved hiking in all the amazing parks. Ithaca back then was much more liberal than SLO is. Not sure if that has changed.<br>
I don’t know about the food science programs but I would think the learning environment is a lot more relaxed at Poly than at Cornell. If your son wants to work in CA after graduation I would think a CP degree would go farther than a Cornell degree. Employers know that Poly grads can hit the ground running because of the learn by doing philosophy.<br>
Congrats to your son on getting into 2 top programs! Good luck with the decision.</p>
<p>Cornell is obviously the more prestigious school, especially outside of CA. I think your choice depends on what school environment you like better in the end.
I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity of going to Cornell. :)</p>
<p>I agree with the person above me, Cornell definitely has more of a reputation. Sure, the weather in both areas is very different, but I’ve learned that it is stupid just to go to a school because it is located someplace warm. You should not forget to consider all the many other factors. If it were my choice, I’d pick Cornell.</p>
<p>I agree NTKS17 that one shouldn’t go to a school just because it is warm there. Ithaca doesn’t have many sunny days during the year and it can be depressing to someone who is not used to that. Just something to consider.</p>
<p>Cornell University? The ivy league college in Ithaca, NY? Home of 28 Rhodes scholars, 41 Nobel Prize laureates and with a 4 billion dollar endowment? You must be kidding.</p>
<p>Do not underestimate the impact of climate. I went to a college in Lancaster, PA where the sun was rarely seen from late October through early March and depression in that highly competitive academic environment was a huge problem throughout the student body. If you are used to that and can thrive with the traditional ivy league educational approach then Cornell is a no brainer. It also has one of the top Hotel programs in the country I believe.</p>
<p>I agree with slodad; if you’re planning to work in California, a SLO degree will take your further. Employers know that graduates are ready to take on the work environment. There’s only so much that a degree can get you… experience gets you further.</p>